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FOXBOROUGH — We got our first glimpse at the Patriots rookies, 23 tryout players and the new coaching staff on Saturday. Some very early impressions about what we saw, while remembering this is just one day and about an hour of on-field work:
• Jerod Mayo said he was going to be bouncing around the different positions, and he wasn't kidding.
"Honestly, I have been over with the offense more than I have been with the defense," Mayo said before practice. "And that just goes back to continuing to grow and continuing to learn, like I said in those offensive meetings as well. I am learning right alongside those guys. As far as practice is concerned, I am going to bounce around, offense, defense, special teams. I mean, they all play a huge part in winning football games, but that is the benefit of having a bigger staff, or a larger staff, so I am able to do that."
Well, Bill Belichick is definitely no longer here. Mayo started the day by mugging for the cameras after coming up the stairs, and then he sort of just strolled around practice stopping at every position at some point. Mayo mostly just walked around with his hands in the front of his hoodie, not really interacting very much. Before 7 on 7, he called both sides in and had a brief word. That was about the extent of his "coaching" in this practice.
Seems Mayo is putting the CEO in CEO coach. Doesn't really get his hands dirty in much, defers to his position coaches and coordinators. My initial impression was I don't think he knows what to do. I mean, why would he? He's never come close to being in this position before. Definitely learning on the job it appears. But you can definitely see the difference from Belichick, who could coach every single position, and Mayo who is a career linebacker and linebacker coach.
• For a Patriots rookie camp, there were a lot of players on the field with 39 total. Division: eight draft picks, nine undrafted free agents, 22 tryout players. Can't recall the Patriots ever having lose to that number of tryout players. That's a Packers thing. They will never turn down the opportunity to mine for talent and get a look at players.
• Yet it seemed like Patriots staffers — coaching, personnel, football operations — doubled the number of players. They have a lot of people in the organization now, and a lot of people who don't really have any duties during practice (Troy Brown, Evan Rothstein, etc.). Just a lot of cooks.
I mean, peep the number of assistants on the roster handed out to us:
• Alex Van Pelt and TC McCartney definitely were the lead voices with the quarterbacks, but Ben McAdoo and Rothstein were also around at least observing.
• It sure felt like Maye was directed to do everything, including throwing, at about half speed. They are building him from the ground up with footwork, etc. They can't forget about his throwing motion, which is long and he has an annoying hitch where his shoulder shrugs before he throws. But he looks the part. Never really cut it loose and he was 5 of 6 in a light 7 on 7 and they were all short throws.
• We got the full Joe Milton experience — as he was rifling balls, for better or worse (mostly). He had one rep where he rolled to his left, flipped his hips and flicked a bullet to tryout WR Beau Corrales. It was gorgeous. And then in 7 on 7, Milton threw a laser through David Wallis, was way wide to Corrales, missed the back Terrell Jennings, and finally connected with the RB on Milton's final rep.
• Caeden Wallace (left tackle) and Layden Robinson (left guard) lined up next to each other throughout practice. I like Robinson a little more. Nothing stood out about Wallace other than he is obviously very smart. He seems small for a LT. Patriots are definitely running a ton of inside and outside zone with boots and all that. It's like old school West Coast.
• The lines were: LT Wallace, LG Robinson, C Ryan Johnson (tryout, Youngstown State), RG Charles Turner (UDFA, LSU), RT Hyrin White (tryout, SMU - he's 6-7, 323).
Next line was White, Turner, C Joey Ramos (tryout, Arizona State)
• The rookie receivers looked about as advertised: Ja'Lynn Polk is just solid, tough and efficient. Javon Baker has a little more sizzle to his game but he's inconsistent. Not much deep in this practice. A lot of emphasis on short routes. Coach Tyler Hughes was definitely trying to be technical.
Tryout WR Rory (RJ) Starkey (6-0, 214, 4.45) of Samford caught my eye. He's well-put together - he is 24. Grad transfer from Penn to Samford.
• Sixth-round pick Marcellas Dial played all cornerback it appeared in practice. Seemed thinner than I anticipated. Feels like a CB or FS body - not a box safety.
• Seventh-round TE Jaheim Bell didn't stand out much, other than he needed to be coached hard and repeatedly.
• I didn't notice UDFA RB DeShaun Fenwick much after seeing him early. Perhaps an injury? Tryout RB Terrell Jennings (Florida A&M) did get a ton of time and looked like a natural receiving back.
• Other guys who caught my eye:
SS Tre'Von Sherman-Green (Prarie View A&M tryout): Box safety type looked the part physically. 5-11, 210.
Edge Jay Person (Chattanooga tryout): Measures only 6-2, 237 but looked good in edge rusher drills.
LB John Morgan (Georgia State UDFA): 6-1, 252 appeared to adapt to MLB well.
More must-reads:
- Justin Jefferson agrees to record-setting contract extension with Vikings
- Giants reportedly expecting standout TE to retire
- The 'Recent seasons with 1,000 receiving yards' quiz
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